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P497 BCN

1997 Mazda MX-5

Black Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires21 Apr 2027
Tests16 (11 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate68.8%

Mileage

73,452 mi
Last recorded73,452 miles
Recorded on22 Apr 2026
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Mazda
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP497 BCN
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,598cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

11 pass 5 fail
Pass 22 Apr 2026 73,452 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

General corrosion to the underside

Pass 27 Jun 2024 73,396 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

General corrosion to the underside

Fail 20 Jun 2024 73,396 miles

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

General corrosion to the underside

Pass 25 Mar 2022 72,986 miles

Fuel Pipe/s corroded Several ()

Slight corrosion setting into vehicle underside

Pass 8 Sep 2020 72,467 miles

Earth wire corroded at rear chassis

Fuel Pipe/s corroded Several ()

Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 26 Sep 2019 72,333 miles
Pass 19 Sep 2018 70,399 miles
Pass 30 Jun 2017 70,174 miles
Pass 30 Jun 2016 69,628 miles
Fail 21 Jun 2016 69,628 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 28 Apr 2008 68,091 miles

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Fail 23 Apr 2008 68,090 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 23 Apr 2007 62,329 miles
Fail 16 Apr 2007 62,292 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 21 Apr 2006 49,952 miles
Fail 20 Apr 2006 49,952 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.B2)

Offside Headlamp aim too high when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.B2)

Offside Windscreen wiper blade insecure (8.2.2)

Front Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

corossion to front end crossmember susp/parts

front end new body work bonnet wings grill radiator inner wings lights and headlights poss/crash damage

oil leak

How Reliable is the Mazda MX-5?

Based on 2,502,760 MOT tests across 160,823 vehicles.

76.5%
Pass Rate
2,964
Miles/Year
36
Year Lifespan
160,823
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 44,475
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 41,962
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 35,980
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 33,281
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 32,722
Full Mazda MX-5 reliability report

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P497 BCN is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Black with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68.8%.

Across all 1997 Mazda MX-5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.7% with a typical mileage of 85,711 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Mazda MX-5 fails its MOT is seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 44,475 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P497 BCN, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mazda MX-5 typically stays on UK roads for around 36 years. At 29 years old, this Mazda MX-5 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P497 BCN?

You can check the full history of P497 BCN by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P497 BCN registered?

P497 BCN is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 17 April 1997.

Is P497 BCN safe to buy?

The MOT history for P497 BCN shows 16 tests with a 68.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P497 BCN have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on P497 BCN. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.